Real lives: I had a little cry when we made it through the door

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In this article

Caitlin explains how she practically dreamed her way though her baby's arrival by caesarean, but was quickly brought back to reality!

Calm birth after difficult labour

My first 24 hours as a mum began on the operating table after a very odd labour indeed. Giving birth by emergency caesarean was actually a very relaxed affair. After some strange tugging sensations, I vaguely remember hearing my baby cry to the sounds of Take That singing Greatest Day.

Through my diamorphine-induced haze I had almost forgotten why I was there. In fact, I was very nearly asleep throughout the whole experience!

My baby's cry brought me straight back to earth with a big bump. Moments later my husband, looking like George Clooney in his scrubs, announced that "baby" was now a boy.

I had imagined emergency caesareans to be pretty dramatic affairs, but it was amazing how calm it all was. Soothing tunes played in the background and I could hear the gentle banter of the medical team as they went about their business. It was quite unlike what I imagined.

First breastfeed

As soon as our baby had been through his checks, he was bought back to me all wrapped and snuggly. At last, I could see him properly.

When I was wheeled into recovery, my midwife encouraged me to hold our baby skin to skin. He had his first breastfeed. It was such a wonderful moment.

Overcoming difficulties

The caesarean wound was very restricting. It was hard to keep mobile. I was numb from my ribcage down and I remember picking up my leg and marvelling at the fact it just flopped back down on to the bed like a big, dead fish!

While my baby slept, I begged the midwife for some tea and toast. I was rather indignant to be told that I couldn't have anything to eat while I was still under observation. After a somewhat undignified bed bath, I was left alone to marvel at my 7lb 8oz bundle of wonder.

Unfortunately, my little one was admitted to special care baby unit (SCBU) with sepsis later the next day. We had to stay in hospital for another week, which was a real strain.

It was much more difficult being home than I had anticipated. In hospital there weren't chores to do or a toddler to look after. It was frustrating and painful being so incapacitated.

Even manoeuvring myself from lying flat in bed to a sitting position was almost impossible. I found myself missing the adjustable hospital beds! At least you could just press a button to get yourself into an upright position, rather than lurching from side to side like a beached whale just to sit up straight!

But while I was going through all that discomfort, our little one was oblivious, and fed and slept well that night. It all made my first 24 hours at home exhausting, but ultimately fantastic.

Last reviewed: January 2013

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